Rockdale Council (in Sydney's south) is apparently in talks with the "Kogarah Mecca Movie Complex" owner to re-open the complex. I am not sure of when it first opened, but it closed down late 2003 due to advertising costs. I wish that it does re-open, as it was a large part of Kogarah, and there are two recently opened car-parks.

In the St George district (which Kogarah Mecca is located in), there are two movie complexes - Hurstville Greater Union (Hurstville Council) and Beverly Hills Movie Complex (Rockdale Council).

I can understand that in order to be a profitable and competitive cinema, they felt the need to turn the Mecca into a multiplex - but I think they would have done FAR better if they had restored the old Mecca as it was ...

I have really fond memories of going there as a child ... with the mezzine level and stalls, the old wurlitzer organ and Gus the Theatre Cat scaring the bejeezus out of me by walking along the back of my seat at a particularly inopportune moment during Alien

It was a beautiful theatre - and by converting it into four smaller cinemas- it just became like a scaled down version of Village, Hoyts or Greater Union - rather than something unique - which is what they should have marketed themselves as...

anyway, I hope they DO reopen - as it is a handy location - and if they manage to keep ticket prices down as they have in the past by being family owned and run - then hopefully it will do well ...

oh and btw - Beverly Hills only has two screens - is that considered a complex??? :shock:

since the cinema's closed at Kogarah, hasn't there been a few other independent cinema complex's that have closed down. One clsed down about a week or two ago (and i think Cate Blanchett is trying to make it re-open or something)

there was an article is today's local paper (The Leader) saying that Rockdale Council haveplans for redeveloping the Kogarah West Shops, and there are talks that Kogarah Mecca might be demolished to make way for apartments. Mecca isn't heritage listed.

[quote:d973c403d1]I always wondered what they had planned for the site, anyway I hope they reopen it even though movie sales have gone down over the years due to DVDs and pirate copies.[/quote:d973c403d1]

According to the Bureau of Stats, movie attendance has increased -

[quote:d973c403d1]The 2002 Survey of Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events found 69.9% of the Australian population aged 18 years and over (10.1 million people) attended a cinema, drive-in or other public screening of a film at least once in the 12 months prior to interview in 2002 (table 12.13). Attendance at cinemas was significantly higher than in 1999, when the attendance rate was 65.6% (9.2 million people).[/quote:d973c403d1]

although it's not really a news-worthy of a story update to those not living in the area, but sadly, the Kogarah Mecca is NOT going to be re-opened. In fact, as we speak, is in the process of being demolished, to make way for a residential (and partial retail) complex.

The inside of the cinema complex has been gutted out. The roof is been taken off over the last day or so. I assume the the actual building be taken down by the end of the week

The apartment building behind this building had been knocked down completely around (a week ago), while the few shops next to Mecca were knocked down a few days ago.

To those living close by, its a huge shock to see it go. Also a shock for movie-goers in general. Although it has been closed for 9 years (the complex was just left closed. No tenants in that time), it is a shame it is gone.

Im sorry to write this up, but remembered about this topic, so i had to write up an ''update'' on the progress of this site (maybe a topic in the movie section about ''former cinema complexes'' or ''movie theatres'' in general could be made???)